 |  | | Issue 420 | 13 November 2008 | | | Hi Cruisers,
As Kristy has mentioned each week, I've been away in Asia for conferences and business. I spent 5 days in Shanghai at a cruise conference and if you've never been TO Shanghai, it's certainly a fascinating city with a mixture of the very old and very new. The city itself is under reconstruction at the moment in preparation for the 2010 World Expo. I think once this is finished, it will be great as the traffic at the moment is horrendous! I've posted a couple of pictures below of the city however, it was overcast so they're not particularly great. The one with the TV tower is on what they call Pudong, 10 years ago, it was cow paddocks. Don't you wish the NSW Government could work that fast! Not only are they building new rail systems and roads but new cruise terminals as well.
The current terminal is in a great place close to the city and right next door to the Hyatt Hotel, there is a photo below of the terminal from my hotel room. Shanghai and China are going to create a world cruising hub for the growing demand of both consumers and cruise lines. There are 43 new ships under construction to be delivered in the next 5 - 6 years and they have to go somewhere, shame its not Australia.
What I want to know is, how does NSW with the largest population in Australia and the great TAX income and no new infrastructure programs completed, go broke? What happened to all the money from the housing boom, not to mention the registration taxes we pay for cars? Now we have a mini budget charging drivers more and stopping most infrastructure programs.
Anyway I got side tracked there. In Shanghai, they have the first commerical Maglev train in operation. It's German designed and built, of course. Why it's taken 20 years to get into production who knows, guess it's the huge cost and fear of the unknown, but it's amazing. It takes you from the airport to outside of the city in 8 minutes, travelling up to 431 Kilometres an hour! See the photo below, it's an indicator in the cabin of the speed and the time taken. They are working on taking it right into the city and when they do, it will be the only way to go. At $10.00 AUD one way, it's well worth the experience.
Click thumbnails to view fullsize... Speaking of Shanghai, we have a great special on Costa Allegra's Singapore to Shanghai sailing, departing on the 27th of June next year. Our 16 night package includes return flights with Singapore Airlines, 1 night pre-cruise at the Novotel Clarke Quay in Singapore with transfers, 14 nights on Allegra with onboard meals and entertainment, port/govt taxes and gratuities and 1 night post-cruise at the Sofitel Hyland in Shanghai. Prices for this package now start from only $2799 - what great value! Click here
Save up to 55% on Costa's Hong Kong to Singapore cruises. Costa Cruises has released brand new rates on Allegra's Hong Kong to Singapore sailings throughout 2009 with savings of up to 55% off brochured prices. Our new 10 night package includes return Qantas flights, 1 night pre-cruise at the Empire Hotel in Kowloon, 1 night post-cruise at the Novotel Clarke Quay in Singapore, 8 nights cruise accommodation on board Allegra with port/govt taxes and gratuities. Prices start from $2099, click here for more.
New Brilliance of the Seas 2010 Dubai cruises now available. Experience Dubai and the United Arab Emirates on Brilliance of the Seas' first ever Dubai-based season. Starting in January 2010, Brilliance of the Seas will embark on a number of 7 night cruises from Dubai for a four month period. Prices for our brand new Dubai Brilliance cruise package start from $3699 including return flights with Singapore Airlines, 1 night at the Fairmont Dubai and 7 nights cruise accommodation with all meals and port/govt taxes. Visit Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Mina Sulman in Bahrain, click here for more.
Up to 40% off Captain Cook Fiji cruises. Captain Cook Cruises are offering 20% off their 3 and 4 night Fijian cruises and 40% off their 7 night cruise. Prices now start from $2999 for our Ultimate Fiji cruise holiday including return flights to Nadi flying Qantas, 2 nights at the Sheraton Denarau Villas and 7 nights on board MV Reef Escape with all onboard meals, glass bottom boat excursions, village and island visits, snorkelling, guided island walks and cultural activities, click here for more.
Save up to $2800 per couple on Rhapsody of the Seas. Royal Caribbean is offering fantastic savings on Rhapsody's 11 night South Pacific cruise, departing Sydney on 2 April. Prices for Inside cabins now start from $1799, Oceanview cabins from $2299 and Balconies from $2899, click here for more.
Last Minute Barrier Reef Special - Save $7200 per couple! We have some last minute rates on Rhapsody of the Seas' 2 December Great Barrier Reef cruise. Spend 11 nights cruising from Sydney to Hamilton Island, Cairns, Port Douglas, Cooktown and Brisbane from only $1599. Junior suites are still available at an unbelievable $3199, click here.
Sail Europe on Seabourn Odyssey and save! The Yachts of Seabourn have released new rates on a selection of Seabourn Odyssey's 2009 Mediterranean cruises. Our Greek Isles & Turkey cruise holiday is now priced from $9649 including return earlybird airfares with Singapore Airlines, 1 night pre-cruise at the Grand Bretagne Hotel in Athens, 1 night post-cruise at the Swissotel the Bosphorus in Istanbul and 7 nights luxury cruising on Seabourn Odyssey as she visits Mylos, Rhodes, Symi and Khyos in the Greek Islands and Kusadasi in Turkey before sailing in to Istanbul. Click here for more.
Cruise Alaska with Celebrity. Celebrity Cruises has reduced prices on their 7 night Alaskan cruises on board Infinity. Our Glacier Week cruise package starts from $3699 including return flights to Seattle with China Airlines, 1 night at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, 7 nights cruise accommodation, port/govt taxes and a free Taipei stopover. Cruise the Inside Passage, the Hubbard Glacier, Ketchikan, Juneau and Victoria, click here.
Best of the Baltic cruisetour. We have put together a brand new cruise tour for Northern Europe and the Baltic cities for 2009. Our 24 night package includes return earlybird airfares flying Qantas, 1 night pre-cruise at the First Hotel Vesterbro in Copenhagen followed by 10 nights on board Emerald Princess including all meals and port/govt taxes, as she cruises to Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallinn, Gdansk and Oslo before cruising back into Copenhagen. Once back in Copehnhagen, you will have 1 night post-cruise at the First Hotel Skt. Petri before commencing your 12 night escorted coach tour through Denmark, Norway and Sweden. You'll visit the capital cities of these countries along with smaller villages and towns including Bergen, Balestrand, Geiranger and Loen as well as the the stunning Hardanger fjord, Sognefjord, the Briksdal Glacier and so much more. Prices start from $11,149, click here for more.
This week's Costa Specials from around the World!
Singapore Sling & Bintan, 19 night fly/cruise with Allegra from $3199 - Click here
Mexico & Jamaica Experience, 7 night cruise with Fortuna from $1199 - Click here
Ancient Wonders, 11 night cruise with Mediterranean from $1649 - Click here
Honningsvag Midnight Sun, 11 night cruise with Mediterranea from $2299 - Click here
Cruising the Emirates, 8 night fly/cruise with Victoria from $2999 - Click here
P&O Deals of the Week
Pacific Shimmer on Pacific Dawn, 9 nights from $1599, click here
Beautiful South Pacific on Pacific Sun, 12 nights from $1299, click here
Summer Sessions with Pacific Dawn, 10 nights from $1099, click here
Queensland Tropique on Pacific Sun, 7 nights from $849, click here
Keep Cruising,
Brett
"Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living"
- Miriam Beard |
 Recently Added Cruises
 | Keep track of the latest cruises with ecruising's RSS feed!
What is RSS? | | | | |  | |  | Singapore to Shanghai  | | 14 nights with Costa Allegra exploring Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan & China. Departs 27 Jun 2009 | From
$1,649.00 |  | Asian Odyssey | | 8 night Asia package with Allegra including airfare! Departing selected dates between April & October 2009 | From
$1,949.00 |  | Hong Kong to Singapore | | Prices Slashed! 10 night package with Allegra including airfare. Selected departures from Apr to Oct 2009 | From
$2,099.00 |  | Singapore Sensation | | Super 16 night package with Costa Allegra. 14 night cruise, 2 nights in Singapore & return airfare. Apr to Oct 2009 | From
$2,599.00 |  | Singapore to Shanghai | | 16 night package through Asia. Includes airfare plus a night in Singapore & Shanghai. Departs 27 June 2009 | From
$2,799.00 |  | Sydney to Auckland Special | | GREAT SPECIAL!! Don't miss out... 13 night package with Diamond Princess plus airfare. Departs 5 & 29 Jan 2009 | From
$1,599.00 |  | Kiwi Discovery on Rhapsody | | Sydney return, 14 nights on board Rhapsody of the Seas includign gratuities. Departs 21 Jan & 4 Feb 2010 | From
$2,849.00 |  | Traverse the Tasman | | Sydney return, 17 nights on board Rhapsody of the Seas including gratuities. Departs 21 Dec 2009 | From
$3,249.00 |  | Discover the Reef | | Sydney Return, 10 nights on board Rhapsody of the Seas. Departs 21 Nov, 1 Dec 2009 & 2 Apr 2010 | From
$1,749.00 |  | South Pacific Wonders | | 11 nights cruising New Caledonia with Rhapsody of the Seas. Departing 2 Apr 2009 | From
$1,799.00 |  | Fiji Super Saver! | | 20% OFF! 5 night Fiji package with Captain Cook including airfare. Departing every Saturday until 15 Jan 2009 | From
$1,899.00 |  | Northern Yasawa Islands | | 20% OFF! 6 night Fiji package with Captain Cook including airfare. Departing every Tuesday until 15 Jan 2009 | From
$2,199.00 |  | Tahiti Dreaming | | 14 night package with Pacific Dawn, including 3 nights in Papeete & airfare. Departing 4 Jun 2009 | From
$2,799.00 |  | Ultimate Fiji | | 40% OFF! 9 night Fiji package with Captain Cook. Departing every Tuesday & Saturday until 15 Jan 2009 | From
$2,999.00 |  | Dawn Islands | | Fantastic 18 night package with Pacific Dawn including airfare. Departing 15 Jun 2009 | From
$2,999.00 |  | Hawaiian Voyage | | Sydney to Honolulu! 16 nights with Rhapsody, plus airfare & 2 nights in Honolulu. Departs 12 Apr 2010 | From
$4,149.00 |  | Pacific Discovery | | Back to Back Rhapsody! Sydney to Vancouver with airfare, 26 night cruise & 2 nights in Vancouver. Departs Apr 2010 | From
$6,699.00 |  | Cape Town to Australia | | New Sector - Great Value! 18 night package with Sun Princess including airfare. Departs 31 May 2009 | From
$3,299.00 |  | Harbour to the Bay Special | | Sydney to San Fran, 24 nights with Dawn Princess, a night in San Fran & airfare. Departs 5 Jul 2009 | From
$4,749.00 |  | Oz to South Africa | | Excellent 30 night Fly/Cruise package with Sun Princess. Includes a night in Cape Town. Departs 2 May 2009 | From
$5,299.00 |  | 2009 Alaskan Glacier Week | | 9 night package with Infinity including airfare, a night in Seattle, & free Taiwan stopover. Departs May to Sep 2009 | From
$3,699.00 |  | Mekong Journey Special | | UP TO 20% OFF! Siem Reap to Saigon - Includes airfare. Departs selected dates Dec 2008 to Mar 2009 | From
$3,749.00 |  | Mekong Discovery Special | | UP TO 20% OFF! Saigon to Siem Reap - Includes airfare. Departs selected dates Dec 2008 to Mar 2009 | From
$3,799.00 |  | Dubai Brilliance | | 9 night experience with Brilliance of the Seas, including airfare & 2 nights in Dubai. Departing Jan to Apr 2010 | From
$3,699.00 |  | Greek Isles & Turkey | | 9 night luxury package with Seabourn Odyssey, including airfare. Departing Aug, Sep & Oct 2009 | From
$9,649.00 |  | Aegean Odyssey | | 5-Star Istanbul to Athens cruise package with Seabourn Odyssey. Departing 18 Jul &19 Sep 2009 | From
$10,149.00 |  | Adriatic & Greek Isles | | Mediterranean luxury cruising with Seabourn. 9 night Fly/Cruise package. Departing Aug, Sep & Oct 2009 | From
$10,549.00 | |  | Don't forget to check www.ecruising.travel for the best deals or call us on 1300 369 848 for more information on any of these cruises! |         | | | |  | |  | QE2 runs aground on final farewell
| Carnival UK has announced the phasing out of the Ocean Village brand, beginning in Autumn 2009. Both Ocean Village ships will transfer to the P&O Cruises Australia brand, the first in time for Christmas 2009 and the second a year later.
| |  | Pacific Dawn's First Birthday
| Ecruising's very own Alison Amos attended P&O Pacific Dawn's first birthday celebrations last week, for lunch and a ship tour. Oh, and Pacific Dawn's godmother Cathy Freeman was there too!
| | |
| Don't forget to check www.ecruising.travel for the best deals or call us on 1300 369 848 for more information on any of these cruises! |  | | | |  | | |
| You can now submit your feedback to us at www.ecruising.travel...
Click the "Feedback" link to see how! | |  | | | | | Brett Dudley - Editor
support@ecruising.travel
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Telephone (02) 9274 4000 or 1300 369 848 | Web Address: http://www.ecruising.travel
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Best of the Baltic
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